Hungarian-Bosnian agricultural talks held in Budapest at the Ministry of Agriculture ended successfully on Tuesday with the signing of an Agricultural Treaty between the two countries. The Treaty was signed before members of the press by Hungary’s Minister of Agriculture Sándor Fazekas and Bosnian Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Boris Tucic.

Mr. Fazekas said that the agreement centres on animal husbandry and crop production, as well as risk management, food chain safety and scientific cooperation. The agreement will serve as an excellent basis for further cooperation, he added.

The Minister indicated that concrete forms of cooperation would be developed later with the various political entities living in Bosnia. The objective, both parties agreed, was that the two countries’ enterprises and scientific and educational institutions “must be put at an advantage” through joint efforts.

The Minister of Agriculture noted, and his Bosnian counterpart confirmed the fact, that Bosnia-Hercegovina is especially interested in Hungary’s agricultural risk management system, primarily because the country suffered severe flooding in the spring of this year. Bosnia is also counting on Hungary’s support with regard to its preparations for joining the European Union.

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Mr. Fazekas stated that bilateral agricultural trade is highly successful; Hungary exported 308 million euros worth of products to Bosnia-Hercegovina last year and imported agricultural and food industry products valued at some 85 million euros. The objective of the latest level of cooperation it to achieve a further increase in trade relations between the two countries, he added.

Bosnian Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Boris Tucic thanked Hungary for the help provided in mitigating damage caused in the country by heavy flooding in May.

Mr. Tucic emphasised that in addition to agriculture, he also thinks there are excellent opportunities for further cooperation between the two countries within the field of tourism, and expressed his hope that a treaty similar to the one now concluded on agriculture could also be signed between Hungary and Bosnia-Hercegovina in the near future with regard to tourism.

(MTI)